Our people: From Grandpa's radio to family Thanksgivings

Bill Aylesworth is a native of west Texas, but has called Clovis home since 1963 when he and his wife, Martha, moved here to be closer to her mother.

Aylesworth has worked in various jobs throughout his lifetime, notably as an employee of the Safeway Milk Plant for 25 years.

Born in 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression, Aylesworth has lived through some extremely difficult circumstances. He remembers the Dust Bowl Era and its effects on the land. He served as a mess sergeant during the Korean War and returned home to marry his wife shortly after. The couple have four children of their own, and several other extended family members they consider to be like their own children. Two of their sons have passed away, one just earlier this year. Shortly after, he lost his beloved Martha, his wife of 65 years.

Though life for Bill Aylesworth has had its share of trials and challenges, he continues to reminisce fondly on the happiness of his past and appreciates the family and loved ones that surround him.

Q: What do you remember from the Dust Bowl?

A: I used to walk to the mailbox - about two blocks - and you could hold your hand out and you couldn't see it.

And when my wife and I got married, we had bought a farm out west of Muleshoe, about seven miles. And it was sand land. And my wife, after we had a dust storm, she'd have to take - me and her - take a shovel and a tub to get the dirt out of the floor.

I guess it was after I moved here in '63, (the dust storms) just finally just kind of quit.

Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?

A: I was named after my mother's dad, my grandpa. I would stay with them a lot - they lived about three miles from us when I was raised. They kept me a lot because me and my grandpa were pretty close. He was the only farmer in that area that farmed with horses, everybody else had tractors ... .he was old-school. And of course my grandma, I loved her too, but in my memory (those were) some of the happiest times I ever had.

He taught me how to play checkers, and I'd follow him around. ... Of course they didn't have much money - they didn't have electricity till I was in high school. And we would listen to the radio on a battery. I really enjoyed that ...

Q: If you could go back in time to visit any year, what year would you go back to?

A: '56. The year I got married. When I got married, my wife was already a part of the family. She was such a joy.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?

A: I served on the board at our church camp ... up at Las Vegas, New Mexico. I served on it for 20 years and I served as secretary, and vice president and then the president at Central Christian Church. I was an elder there for years and years. I served that church for 30 years as an elder. And of course that's where all my kids grew up.

Q: What is your favorite song?

A: My wife and I, our favorite song was Jack Greene's "You Are My Treasure," and they played that at her funeral.

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: Our tradition is that everybody comes for Thanksgiving. There are some children that are like our grandkids, and one of them would bring these games and have to teach us how to play these games. And he's got some hard games, I'll tell you that, and it would just tickle him to death.

Q: What are you most thankful for?

A: My health. Most people don't get to work when they're 88 years old.

Q: If you could visit anywhere, where would you go?

A: Belize. I have (someone I call one of my kids), he has some property in Belize and he's always wanting me to go there. But I just don't like to leave the United States.

When I was coming home from Korea, I came home on a ship in 1955, and we got into a storm - and you would not believe this big old ship - we had waves 30 feet high.

And of course with me being from here, where we don't ever see any water. But I'll tell you, I just prayed and prayed, "God, let me come home." That ship would go way up in the air and you'd be looking at stars and then you'd go plum under the water. Oh man, I never prayed so hard in my life. And we got off course and it just took forever to get home.

Q: If you won the lottery what would you do?

A: Probably pass out. First thing, I'd pay half of it for taxes, but then of course I'd just divide it among my children.

Q: If you could meet any historical figure, who would you meet and why?

A: Ronald Reagan. He was just an excellent, excellent president in my opinion. Of course he was a really popular movie star. And John Kennedy would be next, because John Kennedy was really a really good person, and he wanted what's best for this country. ... John Kennedy said, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."